The Cowboys' Jerry and Stephen Jones gave their stance on the team's national anthem policy this week, but Giants President & CEO John Mara "did not draw a hard line," according to Pat Leonard of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Mara said, “My intention all along had been to sit with our veteran players when they came back to training camp and just discuss the issue. Now that the policy has been put on hold pending the discussions with the NFLPA, I think I’m gonna let those play out before I sit down and talk about that with our players.” Leonard notes Mara's statement comes despite him making it "clear in the past that he, too, prefers players stand." Mara "helped create the NFL’s new controversial anthem policy in May and is now involved in NFL negotiations with the NFLPA to amend it" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/27).
CHOPPY WATERS: In West Palm Beach, Jason Lieser notes the two Dolphins players who have "demonstrated in the past" during the anthem -- WR Kenny Stills and DE Robert Quinn -- are waiting for a resolution to the policy "until they decide how they’ll handle the anthem this season." But if they "had a say, it’d be an easy choice." Quinn said, “I’ll just say one thing: It’s called freedom of speech. Simple as that. It’s freedom of speech.” Stills said, “Obviously I’d like to see there be no policy at all, and the guys have a choice to go out there and do what they want to, and we can support each other and the decisions we want to make." Stills has "worked frequently" with Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross in social justice efforts and "appears to have had a good relationship with him during his four years playing for the Dolphins" (PALM BEACH POST, 7/27). USA TODAY's Lindsay Jones notes Dolphins coach Adam Gase "refused to speculate Thursday about if his team would actually suspend a player for protesting during the national anthem." Gase: “I’ll wait and see what we’re told by the NFL and the NFLPA, as far as how their conversations go. I’ll wait till we actually start games. It seems like things change a lot.” He added, “I mean, if anyone knew actual rules of the NFL, good luck suspending somebody. It takes about 5,000 things before anybody can get suspended” (USA TODAY, 7/27).
ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE: ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio said, "I remember very distinctly texting (Eagles coach) Doug Peterson after Donald Trump's comments and saying to Doug, ‘What are you going to do? Will you have a meeting?’ He texted me back and said, ‘I'm not doing anything,’ because the players had already taken dare care of it through Malcolm Jenkins’ and Chris Long's leadership." Paolantonio: "It is really fascinating that this team pulled all the right levers, both behind the scenes and during every kind of controversy" (“Golic & Wingo,” ESPN Radio, 7/27). Meanwhile, Bengals S George Iloka, referencing Tim Tebow, said, "Let’s just say a known Christian during the national anthem was kneeling. If someone asked why he was kneeling and he said he was praying for some troops, praying for whatever, probably nobody cares. A lot of people would agree with what he’s kneeling for." He added, "Anything can be considered disrespect if you don’t agree with the 'why.' The action is what people mask it with, but it’s the 'why'" (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/26).
BREAKING PROTOCOL? ESPN's Pablo Torre said Bengals Owner Mike Brown seemingly was the “only one that got the message” about having the NFL owners not discuss the anthem issue “because here is Jerry Jones blowing things up to a degree that I think is going to blow back in the NFL’s collective face" ("High Noon," ESPN, 7/26).
